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Irina ZiroyanWidow of a crime boss
Country:
 Russia |
Content:
- Biography of Irina Ziroyan
- Founding of the "Orekhovskaya" Gang
- Sylvester's Plans and Setbacks
- The Decline of the "Orekhovskaya" Gang
- Separation and Violence
- Irina Ziroyan's Inheritance
- Assassination of Irina Ziroyan
- Legacy and Uncertain Future
Biography of Irina Ziroyan
Introduction
Irina Ziroyan, the widow of a notorious criminal authority, was killed on March 1st in Moscow. This incident shed light on the fact that the "Orekhovskaya" gang, which was thought to have been dismantled, still had members engaging in violent activities. This biography will explore the history of the gang and Irina Ziroyan's involvement.
Founding of the "Orekhovskaya" Gang
The "Orekhovskaya" gang was founded in the early 1980s by a man named Ionitsa in Orehovo-Borisovo, Moscow. However, it was under the leadership of Sergei Timofeev, also known as Sylvester, that the gang gained enormous influence and notoriety. Sylvester took over the gang early on, allegedly manipulating Ionitsa and his associates while maintaining sobriety himself. It is said that Sylvester had a strong dislike for people from the Caucasus region and aimed to unite Slavic criminal groups.
Sylvester's Plans and Setbacks
Sylvester's plans to unite Slavic groups were disrupted when he served a two-year term in pretrial detention. Upon his release in 1991 or 1992, he discovered that a significant portion of the "Orekhovskaya" gang had joined forces with the "Solntsevskaya" gang, which had formed alliances with several Chechen groups. Despite some conflicts with the Chechens, Sylvester gradually shifted his focus to legitimate business ventures. He reportedly collaborated with Georgian criminal authority Otari Kvantishvili and established the "Armenian wing" of the gang, led by Gevorg Ziroyan, also known as Gera the Monkey.
The Decline of the "Orekhovskaya" Gang
After Sylvester's car was bombed in 1994, the leadership of the "Orekhovskaya" gang fell to Sergey Butorin, known as Osa, and his close associate Dmitry Belkin, known as Belok. Under their rule, the gang enforced strict discipline, executing members for drug addiction, attempts to leave the gang, and criticism of the leaders. Business people who were targeted for extortion had no choice but to promptly pay the demanded money, or they would be killed. The gang also swiftly dealt with rival groups that harmed the interests of the businessmen associated with the "Orekhovskaya" gang.
Separation and Violence
Gera the Monkey, leader of the Armenian faction within the gang, eventually separated from the "Orekhovskaya" gang and operated independently. Over the course of nearly ten years, Gera successfully extorted money from businesses located near Varshavskoye Highway in Moscow. He amassed a significant fortune, including a major stake in Moscoworetskiy Market (LLC "GGS") and control over firms such as "Tovarishchestvo Torg. Varshavskiy" and "Esso." However, Gera's criminal activities came to an end in 2003 when he was shot dead. The circumstances surrounding his murder remain unclear, but it was rumored to be a result of a conflict with a member of the "Mytishchinskaya" gang known as Lado.
Irina Ziroyan's Inheritance
Following Gera's death, all his assets were inherited by his widow, Irina Ziroyan. At that time, Irina was around forty years old and had already established herself as a successful businesswoman. However, legal disputes arose as numerous members of the gang claimed their share of the inheritance. Irina, recognizing the changing times, aimed to legitimize her business empire, which meant that many former gang members no longer had a place in her organization.
Assassination of Irina Ziroyan
On March 1st, 2012, Irina Ziroyan, now a prominent and successful businesswoman, was having lunch at the same building on Varshavskoye Highway where her late husband's gang had been headquartered. Accompanied by her bodyguard, Valery Filatov, Irina was ambushed by two men wearing black coats and jeans. As they approached her Mercedes-Benz GL 350, one of the men opened fire with a TT pistol. Irina was killed instantly, while her bodyguard sustained severe injuries and later died in the hospital. The assassins escaped, and their identities remain unknown.
Legacy and Uncertain Future
The question of who will inherit Irina Ziroyan's fortune remains uncertain. It is unknown if she had any children besides her son Ismail Vekilov. Additionally, it is unclear how her heirs will handle her assets – whether they will continue the process of legitimizing the wealth or revive the criminal activities of the gang. The perpetrators of the assassination likely anticipated the latter. The demise of the "Orekhovskaya" gang marked the end of an era, and Moscow breathed a sigh of relief, believing that organized crime had been defeated.
